Fishing Tips for Using Open Face Reels

Open Face Reel Techniques: Line Management and Tournament Applications

Open face reels eliminate level wind resistance that costs tournament anglers speed and efficiency during critical moments, but the lack of line guidance creates management challenges requiring practice and technique that novice anglers and inexperienced crews struggle with consistently. RJ Boyle demonstrates why serious tournament fishermen accept these complications for the performance advantages open face reels provide and what skills you need developing before deploying them in competitive situations where equipment failures cost placements. Understanding when open face reels justify their demands versus when conventional reels with level winds serve your needs better prevents adopting equipment that creates more problems than it solves.

Why Do Tournament Anglers Prefer Open Face Reels?

Level wind resistance in conventional reels creates friction during line deployment and retrieval that becomes significant when fighting large fish or needing maximum spool speed. Open face reels eliminate this resistance entirely, providing faster line release during hookups and quicker retrieval when gaining line on fish. In tournament scenarios where seconds matter and every mechanical advantage counts, removing level wind drag provides measurable benefits. The tradeoff is losing the automatic line distribution level winds provide, forcing anglers to guide line manually across the spool during retrieval.

What Problems Arise Without Level Wind Features?

Line stacking unevenly on the spool creates problems ranging from tangles during deployment to uneven drag performance when line builds up on one side. Without level wind guidance, you must consciously distribute line properly while fighting fish and managing other fight aspects simultaneously. Inexperienced crews often focus entirely on the fish, allowing line to pile incorrectly and creating cascading problems. Bird's nests, backlashes, and uneven drag all stem from improper line management that level winds prevent automatically.

When Should You Use Open Face Versus Conventional Reels?

Tournament fishing where performance advantages justify additional technique requirements favors open face reels. Recreational fishing or situations where crew experience varies suggest conventional reels eliminate unnecessary complications.